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Undefeated Texas and Alabama go for the National Championship

Alabama and Texas have only played each other three times in bowl games in the last 45 years.  Texas won the 1965 Orange Bowl, the 1973 Cotton Bowl and the 1982 Cotton Bowl by no more then 4 points. If Sportsbook industry handicappers are right, this years BCS Championship Bowl will be a close one too. Instant Action Sports opened the line for the National Championship with Alabama -5 and -200 Money Line. But giving 5 points to the Longhorns for starters seemed a little too much of an advantage and many early birds went for it; therefore, the line is now Alabama -3½ on the spread, laying -175 in the ML.

Let’s take a brief look at the facts. Both teams have come to the Championship game with a 13-0 mark. Even the pros –Ask this year’s Colts if not- can tell you how hard it is to make it to the postseason with a perfect record.  Without taking merits away from TCU and Boise State (the two other undefeated teams of the season) it is particularly difficult to win every game of the Big 12 or the SEC.

While Texas has made the headlines of the NCAA news in the past four years, winning their last three bowl appearances (2005 and 2006 Rose Bowls and 2009 Fiesta Bowls) for Alabama’s Crimson Tide things have only gone uphill.  This is Bama’s first shot at the National Championship since 1992, and all of the senior year players are quite aware of how tough things were before head Coach Nick Saban came to clean up after Mike Shula’s mess. Between 2006 and 2007 the Crimson Tide lost 13 games, and had a losing season in ‘06.

So yeah, it has been a long journey for Saban and his men, but they sure enough deserve this chance. This is perhaps the best opportunity to redeem themselves from last season’s unexpected defeat in the 2009 Sugar Bowl against the Utah Utes, 31-17.

Colt McCoy, the Longhorns’ quarterback, is going to have to bring on his A-game to face Alabama’s talented defense. McCoy (who was last year’s runner up) did not win this year’s Heisman. He was not even close. And this can be blamed upon the somewhat irregular season (albeit the 13-0 record) he has had. For instance, let’s consider the Longhorn’s last regular season game against Nebraska: McCoy was sacked 9 times and intercepted on 3 different occasions.

Alabama is not going to forgive these sorts of mistakes so easily. And truth be said, Texas is going to have to face quarterback Greg McElroy who has thrown for 2,450 yards and 17 touchdowns in the regular season, and the rest of one very fine offensive squad. A powerful offense that has this year’s Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in the recieving end.  

The bottom line is this: Regardless of where you decide to place your action, this is going to be one heck of a game.

About the Author

Stephen Lars is a top senior copy writer on NCAA Football and sports action for the online sports betting: http://www.instantactionsports.com. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

Jim Caldwell, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts, pulled out his starters in the third quarter and seriously jeopardized the Colts’ chances to finish off a perfect season. Perhaps, behind the sour-sweet reaction from Indianapolis fans, Caldwell might have just made the best decision in the long run. Back in 2007, the New England Patriots team had proved that perfection has its own flaws. The Patriots had had the perfect season – almost. There is a certain cruelty in the Patriots ending their perfect streak in the game that mattered most: the Super Bowl XLII. So this year’s Colts might not be perfect, but they are quite virtuous, and this might very well be what makes the difference between holding a perfect record, or the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Let’s face it: the NFL record 23 regular-season winning game strike came to an end while 3 times MVP Payton Manning looked from the sidelines. But Manning and Co. are going to the postseason in top shape, with home team advantage, and no late season injuries to regret. Perhaps this perspective was not clear enough for most of Indianapolis Colts’ fans who filled the Lucas Oil Stadium with boos.

Caldwell pulled out Manning and Co. with a 15-10 lead and 5:36 left in the 3rd quarter. And it did not seem that bad. But things were about to change. First, replacement QB Curtis Painter was hit by linebacker Calvin Pace. Following the hit, Painter lost the ball and Marques Douglas recovered it and scored. Then Mark Sanchez completed a two point conversion pass to Dustin Keller to make it 18-15. Judging by the way the Colts fans shouted their boos, it seemed like they knew that the cow manure was about to hit the wind spinner. 

In the fourth quarter, the New York Jets closed the game with two more scores. Jay Feely’s 43 yard field goal, followed up by a 1 yard touch down, came with no offensive reaction from the Colts. And the die had been cast. The Jets saw an opportunity, and took it. At the end, the Colts lost their perfect season 29-15 against the Jets. But this has been one heck of a regular season.  

The only team that had gone 15-0 in regular season was the 2007 New England Patriots. Only two other teams, the Pats and 1972 Miami Dolphins, had gone into playoffs with a perfect record. This year, both the New Orleans Saints and the Colts could have gone flawless into the last game, and, even if not necessarily plausible, a Saints-Colts final seemed possible. But the Saints now have two defeats in a row. And considering the Jets’ win over Indianapolis, it looks like Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins are still going to be the only team to go undefeated an entire season.

Caldwell’s decision came like an answer to the New York Jets’ prayers. Without Payton Manning, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne and Joseph Addai in the field, things got way easier for the Jets. Now, after this win, the Jets will not depend upon other teams’ performances to qualify for the playoffs. If they are able to take a home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals this coming week, the Jets will make it into the postseason for the first time since 2006.

There was a bit of controversy around Caldwell’s call. But Manning, the players, and the management stand behind his decision. The bottom line is that the Colts have one goal in mind: to win the Super Bowl. If they are able to do so, losing the perfect streak is a small price to pay.

About the Author

Stephen Lars is a top senior copywriter for the NFL games as well as the top ranking online sports betting site: www.instantactionsports.com

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site; please leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content

By Claudia Beckford

The 24-year old Brazilian forward known as Robinho who plays for the Spaniard giant Real Madrid since mid 2005 has recently stated that he would like to consider the proposal made by the English Premier League team Chelsea before the start of this year’s new season.  Nevertheless, Robinho’s time to negotiate with his current team and the English one is about to expire as a decision has to be reached by the end of the weekend.

Robinho’s professional career began early in 2002 when he played for three consecutive years for the Brazilian team Santos totaling 44 goals in the 104 game participations. As of 2005 Robinho was transferred to the Real Madrid where he became an important part of the team’s success especially during the season 2007-08 of La Liga, when Real Madrid won the championship.

In order for the footballer to be able to be part of Chelsea’s roster he will need to come to an agreement in terms of money with the Real Madrid as his contract is valid until 2010; the amount in question could be around 150m Euros  or 119m British Pounds.  It is well known the Brazilian has repeatedly stated his wish to play in England and leave the Spanish club as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the Liga club has announced that “the Real Madrid would never want to retain a player against his wishes and as a result they have no alternative but to accept his unilateral decision to rescind his contract - if that is what the player wants.”

Two of the major reasons for Robinho’s discomfort and deep wish to leave the Real Madrid are the facts that he recently became aware the club was negotiating his sell to another club in order to gather all the required funds to buy Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract before the starting of the season and that he could not participate as part of his Brazilian National Squad neither help them as his request to participate in the Olympic Games was refused.

Chelsea’s coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was the first to contact Robinho during the first days of the month of August and to his surprise he received very positive feedback from the Brazilian forward and from that point on the transfer saga has become the daily news in the football world. It is very clear Robinho does not want to be part of the Real Madrid anymore and he should be able to freely move to another club where he feels his game and efforts are more appreciated.

There have been reports that Chelsea’s bid could be around 19m to 30m British Pounds to get Real Madrid’s permission release signed.  But now another issue has awaken which is to whether the Spaniard club should let go of the player or not, as the player is known for his exception skills and capability on the football field. The acquirement of Robinho would certainly be a gain for Chelsea as he will make an excellent pair with Deco who is already part of the Chelsea’s players list while for the Real Madrid will be an open spot - a very difficult to be replaced within only a few days time.

About the author
Claudia Beckford provides current Spain La Liga content as well as information in the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.